Speaker, Deputy President and hon members, the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration would like to present the report on the nomination of the National Public Service Commissioners.
Just as a reminder, hon members, we must put before us here that the Public Service Commission is an independent and impartial institution, established in terms of the Constitution of 1996, with its powers and function to investigate, monitor and evaluate the organisation, administration and personnel practices of the Public Service, amongst others. Its mandate entails the evaluation of achievement and lack of achievement in these programmes in government.
In terms of section 196(7) of Chapter 10: Public Administration in the Constitution, it is clearly stated that -
(7) The commission has the following 14 commissioners appointed by the President:
a) Five commissioners approved by the National Assembly in accordance with subsection 8(a); and
b) one commissioner for each province ... in accordance with subsection 8(b).
In other words, we have nine commissioners from the provinces and five national commissioners. In all, we have a total of 14 commissioners. A commissioner is appointed for a term of five years, which is renewable for one additional term only. So, in other words, they cannot go on to a third term in terms of the Constitution.
This year, in June, the term of office of two Public Service commissioners came to an end after being renewed. One of them was the serving chairperson of the commission, who will be familiar to most members, namely Prof S Sangweni.
The vacancies meant that the Public Service Commission remained with only three out of five commissioners. The Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration was tasked on behalf of Parliament to advertise, shortlist, interview and nominate the preferred commissioners. The portfolio committee then reports the outcomes to Parliament for adoption, with a view to recommend the candidates to the President for appointment.
Speaker, it is along these lines that a subcommittee was appointed by the portfolio committee to act as a panel in order to shortlist, interview and recommend to the National Assembly the successful candidates. The panel consisted of the following members: Hon J C Moloi-Moropa (ANC), hon E Sulliman (ANC), hon E Rasool (ANC), hon N E Gcwabaza (ANC), hon A M Dreyer (DA) and hon L Adams (Cope).
Consensus was reached on the 14 candidates who were shortlisted for interviews. All candidates were highly qualified and experienced in various ways. I must indicate to the House that the subcommittee was such a dedicated team, united around one goal: to get the best out of those who were interviewed. The subcommittee gave consideration to candidates' experience, qualifications, gender, age, knowledge of the Public Service and the Public Service Commission.
After consideration of the subcommittee's report, the portfolio committee recommends the following candidates for nomination as national Public Service commissioners: Ms M J J Matsomela and Mr B Mthembu.
In the event that these candidates are not available to serve on the national Public Service Commission, the committee recommends that the following candidates be considered for appointment in the order in which they appear below, the third person being Adv R K Sizani and the fourth Mr G Aboobaker.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the panel, which was a subcommittee constituted by the committee, on the good work done in putting the interests of the country first, in order to achieve the best selection from amongst the nominated candidates. It will always be my wish to work with such a dedicated team, and I congratulate them on the good work done. Thank you. [Applause.]
There was no debate.
Question put: That the House approve the nominations of Ms M J J Matsomela and Mr B Mthembu for appointment to the Public Service Commission and of Adv R K Sizani and Mr G Aboobaker as supplementary nominations.
AYES - 233: Abram, S; Adams, L H; Adams, P E; Bam-Mugwanya, V; Bhengu, P; Bikani, F C; Bonhomme, T J; Borman, G M; Boshigo, D F; Botha, T; Burgess, C V; Cebekhulu, R N; Chikunga, L S; Chohan, F I; Coetzee, T W; Coleman, E M; Cwele, S C; Dambuza, B N; Dandala, H M; De Freitas, M S F; De Lille, P; Dexter, P D; Diale, L N; Dikgacoi, M M; Ditshetelo, I C; Dlamini, B O; Dlulane , B N; Doman, W P; Dreyer, A M; Du Toit, N D; Dubazana, Z S; Dube, M C; Dudley, C; Duncan, P C; Dunjwa, M L; Ellis, M J; Figlan, A M; Fihla, N B; Fransman, M L; Frolick, C T; Gasebonwe, T M A; Gcwabaza, N E; Gelderblom, J P; George, D T; George, M E; Gina, N; Gololo , C L; Gona, M F; Goqwana, M B; Gumede, D M; Gungubele, M; Hoosen, M H; Huang, S-B; James, W G; Jeffery, J H; Joemat-Pettersson, T M; Johnson, M; Kalyan, S V; Kekane, C D; Kenye, T E; Kganare, D A; Khoarai, L P; Kholwane, S E; Khumalo, F E; Khunou, N P; Kilian, J D; Kloppers-Lourens, J C; Komphela, B M; Koornhof, N J J v R; Kopane, S P; Kotsi, C M; Kubayi, M T; Landers, L T; Lekgetho , G; Lishivha, T E; Lorimer, J R B; Lotriet, A; Luthuli, A N; Luyenge, Z; Maake, J J; Mabuza, M C; MacKenzie, G D; Madasa, Z L; Madlala, N M; Magagula, V V; Magau, K R; Magazi , M N; Magwanishe, G ; Mahlangu-Nkabinde, G L; Makasi, X C; Makhuba, H N; Makhubela-Mashele, L S; Makhubele, Z S; Makwetla, S P; Malgas, H H; Maluleka, H P; Maluleke, J M; Manamela, K B; Mandela, Z M D; Manuel , T A; Martins, B A D; Mashigo, R J; Mashishi, A C; Masutha, T M; Mataboge, D K; Mathibela, N F; Matlanyane, H F; Matshoba, J M; Maunye, M M; Mavunda, D W; Maynier, D J; Mbili, M E; Mc Gluwa, J J; Mdaka, M N; Mdakane, M R; Mgabadeli, H C; Mjobo, L N; Mkhize, H B; Mkhize, L N; Mkhulusi, N N P; Mlambo, E M; Mmusi, S G; Mnguni, P B; Mnisi, N A; Mnqasela, M; Mocumi, P A; Molebatsi, M A; Molewa, B E E; Moloi-Moropa, J C; More, E; Morgan, G R; Morutoa, M R; Moss, L N; Motimele, M S; Motlanthe, K P; Motshekga, M A; Motshekga, M S; Mthethwa, E M; Mthethwa, E N; Mtshali, E; Mufamadi , T A; Mushwana, F F; Nchabeleng, M E; Ndabandaba, L B G; Ndabeni , S T; Ndlovu, V B; Ndude, H N; Nelson, W J; Newhoudt-Druchen, W S; Ngcengwane, N D; Ngcobo, B T; Ngcobo, E N N; Ngele, N J; Ngonyama , L S; Ngwenya, W; Nhlengethwa , D G; Njikelana, S J; Nkwinti, G E; Ntuli, Z C; Nxumalo, M D ; Nyalungu, R E; Nyama, M M A; Nyanda, M F; Nyekemba, E; Oliphant, G G; Oliphant, M N; Ollis, I M; Pandor, G N M; Phaahla, M J; Pillay, S M; Pilusa-Mosoane, M E; Pretorius, P J C; Pule, D D; Rabotapi, M W; Radebe, B A; Ramatlakane, L; Ramatlhodi, N A; Rantsolase, M A; Rasool, E; Robinson, D; Schafer, DA; Scheemann, G D; Selau, G J; Shiceka, S; Shilowa, M S; Shinn, M R; Sibhidla, N N ; Singh, N; Sisulu, L N; Sisulu, M V; Skosana, J J; Skosana, M B; Smith, P F; Smith, V G; Snell, G T; Sogoni, E M; Sosibo, J E; Sotyu, M M; Steele, M H; Suka , L; Sulliman, E M; Sunduza, T B; Swart , M; Swathe, M M; Thabethe, E ; Thobejane, S G; Thomson, B; Tinto, B; Tlake, M F; Tobias, T V; Tsebe, S R; Tseke, G K; Tsenoli, S L; Tshivhase, T J; Tshwete, P; Tsotetsi, D R; Turok, B ; Twala, N M; Vadi, I; Van Der Berg, N J; Van der Linde, J J; Van der Merwe, S C; Van der Walt, D; Van der Westhuizen, A P; van Rooyen, D D; Van Schalkwyk, H C; van Wyk, A; Waters, M; Wenger, M; Williams, A J; Xasa, T; Xingwana, L M; Zulu, B Z.
Question agreed to.
Nominations accordingly approved in accordance with section 196(8)(a) of the Constitution.